LakeCanada · CA
Hamilton Lake
Hamilton Lake is a stunning cliff-circled alpine tarn perched high in Yoho National Park, reached by a rewarding day hike from the shores of Emerald Lake. The lake sits in a dramatic bowl beneath the towering faces of Mount Carnarvon and Emerald Peak, offering hikers a peaceful, almost secret-feeling destination after a steady climb through old-growth forest. The trail to Hamilton Lake passes the lovely Hamilton Falls early on, then winds through dense hemlock and cedar forest before the final rocky stretch to the water. On warm summer days, the clear blue lake invites a bracing swim, while its perch above the treeline makes it a natural base for ambitious scrambles toward Emerald Peak or Top Hat Peak.